What is the point of thinning vegetable seedlings after they are planted? This seemingly small task could save your garden. Learn about how and when it is a good idea to thin out your vegetable plants.

When planting vegetables from seed, it is important to give them proper spacing. Thinning seedlings is a great way to achieve the desired final spacing that every gardener wants in their vegetable garden.

Plants started in pots are normally not a problem when it comes to spacing. All you have to do is separate them when it is time to transplant outdoors. Plants that are directly seeded in the ground, especially root vegetables, require thinning to ensure optimal growth.

WhyThinning seedlings can produce healthier plants and higher yields by allowing more room for proper growth, reducing competition for water and nutrients, and allowing for good air circulation between plants.

Some larger seeds, like parsnips and radishes, can be spaced at planting, but the issue with this method is that you do not always get 100% germination and this could lead to unwanted spaces within rows. Some seeds that may look large, are actually little clusters of multiple seeds together. Spacing these out will still result in overcrowded seedlings.

When to ThinSeedlings should be thinned once they have 1-2 sets of true leaves. Most will be about 2-3 inches tall and easy to grasp and pull.

Thinning while the soil is damp can help pull the excess plants without agitating the ones you want to keep.

Evening are a great time for thinning because it gives the remaining plants a chance to adjust before being exposed to heat and sunlight once again.

How to ThinFlowers and leafy vegetables like lettuce and spinach can be thinned easily by gently pulling unwanted plants. If you are growing in blocks instead of rows, you can simply run a flexible rake through the seedlings. This will not perfectly space plants out, but it will open more space up for them to grow.

Root vegetables, like onions, beets, and carrots, can be more sensitive to thinning because the roots can become deformed if they are disturbed while they are young. Transplanting long rooted vegetables, like carrots and turnips can cause them to fork. For these, you will want to pull one seedling at a time or try cutting the unwanted seedlings at the soil line, instead of pulling. Spacing will vary by varieties and whether you want your vegetables to grow to full size. In general, leave the equivalent of the anticipated size of the mature vegetable plus a few inches on either side. Your seed packet will usually list optimal spacing.

Vegetable plants that need thinning include:

Beets (3-6 inch spacing)

Carrots (2-3 inch spacing)

Lettuce (18-24 inch spacing)

Onions (3-5 inch spacing)

Parsnips (3-6 inch spacing)

Radishes (2-3 inch spacing)

Rutabaga (8 inch spacing)

Spinach (2-6 inch spacing)

Turnips (2-4 inch spacing)

Although it can be rough to sacrifice so many vegetable plants, some seedlings, such as lettuce, beets, and spinach, can be harvested and tossed into a salad at any time.

Ariana Marisolis a contributing staff writer for REALfarmacy.com. She is an avid nature enthusiast, gardener, photographer, writer, hiker, dreamer, and lover of all things sustainable, wild, and free. Ariana strives to bring people closer to their true source, Mother Nature. She is currently finishing her last year at The Evergreen State College getting her undergraduate degree in Sustainable Design and Environmental Science. Follow her adventures on Instagram.